THE Prince of Wales visited a Cwmbran school today to see the work the school does with a climate change charity he launched in 2010.

Blenheim Road Community Primary works closely with Size of Wales, which helps to protect an area of rainforest twice the size of Wales.

The climate change charity works with schools, employers and community groups across Wales to help protect four million hectares of rainforest in Africa and South America.

Its education programme provides free assemblies and workshops to demonstrate the importance of rainforests and to empower young people to take action against climate change.

Arriving just after 10am, Prince Charles saw this work in action when he attended a presentation by members of the Blenheim Road Community Primary's eco club.

After speaking to some of the 70 guests, he planted a Willow tree with the students, who went into the school despite it being half term.

The tree planting launched the school’s twinning programme to a school in Uganda - which will also have a tree planted in its grounds next week.

Mya Needs, a Year 6 student at the school, said the visit was very good.

"He is really funny," said the 10-year-old, who spoke with the Prince. "We were talking about the banana in the float and then we also spoke about the tree we had just planted.

"He asked me to look after it, he wants to fight tree loss.

"Our partnership with the school in Uganda helps fight deforestation. They are cutting lots of trees there, leaving them with no wood for their homes or a place for the animals to live in."

Mya, who is a member of the school's Eco committee, said they regularly hold assemblies and workshops at the school about how to save trees.

She said that the school also celebrated Go Green Day, Size of Wales' national day of action in October, by holding cake sales, amongst others.

Charlie Williams, a Year 4 student at the school, also spoke with Prince Charles.

She said: "I thought it was very exciting. When we went on the stage, I felt butterflies in my stomach.

"My favourite part was planting the tree with Prince Charles, he also asked me to look after the tree and not let it die."

Marie Galeozzi, eco-coordinator at the school, said the visit had been an honour. She said the school has been working with Size of Wales for four years, and that they take part in projects so that the children learn about climate change, deforestation and how to look after the environment - a cause very close to Prince Charles' heart.

Apart from taking part in Go Green Day, Blenheim Road Community Primary also has an eco team, including a team of "waste watchers" and and a team of "power rangers".

"We will soon have our green area to grow vegetables," Ms Galeozzi said. "The children are very committed in helping - it is not only the eco team, it is the whole school. It is not for a one day event, it is for the whole year.

"In the past four years, we have raised more than £1,000 for Size of Wales.

"For each pound we raise in the UK, they can plant three trees in Uganda to fight deforestation."

According to Size of Wales, 12 million hectares of rainforest are being cut each year, put into perspective by the fact that the whole of Wales is 2 million hectares.

They also report that tropical rainforests absorb nearly a fifth of the world’s man-made CO2 emissions every year and play a crucial role in storing water, regulating rainfall, preventing floods, droughts and erosion and producing much of the world’s oxygen.

Prince Charles left the school just after 11am, after unveiling a plaque and being gifted a pair of Welsh socks. He also spoke with members of the public before leaving.